Fears aid convoy is stalking horse for Russian invasion of Ukraine

Updated
August 23, 2014 09:00:00

Western powers have expressed their anger at advances by a Russian aid convoy into rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine without the approval of the Ukrainian government. The Pentagon's spokesman, John Kirby, has warned of consequences if Russia does not pull its vehicles back from Ukrainian territory.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: For the second time in two weeks, an unauthorised Russian convoy has crossed the border into Ukraine.

The Russians insist the convoy of about 260 trucks was delivering aid. Ukraine, however, has described the action as a "direct invasion."

I asked our Europe correspondent, Phil Williams, if the Russian convoy in question is the same one that has been inching closer to Ukrainian territory for some time.

PHILIP WILLIAMS: Yes, it is and that's the reason why the Russians say they couldn't wait any longer; that the need for this humanitarian aid in places like Luhansk, which has been surrounded for about three weeks was so great that they just decided that, diplomatic niceties aside, "we're going in."

And that was without the permission of the Ukrainians - it's Ukrainian territory, of course - and also without the blessing of the Red Cross, which had said it would accompany the convoy into Ukraine if they could get the security guarantee. So they're not involved.

This is a totally Russian operation and the Ukrainians say it looks to them like an invasion. They're absolutely furious about it, but they're not doing anything to stop the convoy because, they say, that would risk giving the Russians the opportunity, the excuse to intervene militarily. So they are letting it go through, but they are fuming about the whole exercise.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: And all the time, Russia still maintains that it doesn't have any troops in Ukraine?

PHILIP WILLIAMS: Absolutely. They have said that consistently. No one really in the West believes that; they certainly don't believe it in the US, through NATO, through most of the European countries that have condemned it today.

And there's another factor here, too: it's not just this particular convoy that they're worried about; they're also worried about what NATO says and the Pentagon says is a build-up of Russian troops along the border. Here's what Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said about that build-up:

JOHN KIRBY: North of 10,000: I think that's, that's fair to say.

More worrisome than the number is the readiness and the capability that exists in these battalion tactical groups. They are, as I have described before, combined arms capable: armour, artillery, infantry, air defence.

They're very ready; they're very capable; they're very mobile and they continue to do nothing but just increase the tension on the other side with Ukraine.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, speaking a short time ago.

Phil, as you mentioned, NATO's response is important and this time it does seem to be a stronger response. They're referring to this as a major escalation of Russian military involvement in Ukraine. What happens from here?

PHILIP WILLIAMS: Well, it depends really, on Russia's reaction. There is a meeting in the Security Council in New York. We don't expect that to go terribly far. But the Russians are saying, "Look, we're innocent here. We're just trying to help out these people and you're the ones trying to obstruct." And so there's really no meeting of minds here.

Keep in mind, too, that early next week there's supposed to be a meeting between president Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, and Vladimir Putin. And they're supposed to hopefully hammer out some sort of agreement.

Well, it's strange timing, isn't it? Because this has done nothing but increase that level of tension ahead of what's supposed to be a de-escalation, following talks. It seems less likely that that will happen in the next few days.